[UPHPU] Freelance Opportunity Starting ASAP

[Scott Hill]

On 12/4/06, Robert Merrill <merrilr at sostechnical.com> wrote:
>
> I can see some disdain to feeling like a fee is being "taken out" of your
> worth, but look at it the other way.  If you want $50/hr, and you are
> getting paid $50/hr, and someone who connected you with the opportunity
> that
> you want, at the rate you want is getting some too--why is that bad?
>
> Now, if you WANT $50/hr and you're getting $45, then that's different.
> Likewise, if you want $55/hr or $100/hr, and someone can get it for you,
> is
> that worth them getting a piece of the pie as well?


I'm afraid I have to side against agencies/etc.  I have a lot of respect for
them and I have even worked for them before.  However, I was desparate and
needed the work and felt it was the only way to go at the time.  So I
tolerated the situation to keep my family fed.  Two real big problems that I
saw.  One, the employer was paying much more for me than what I was getting
and so their expectations were much different than what they should have
been.  It was difficult (understandably so) for them to see past the huge
amount they were paying per hour for me.  This situation constantly got in
the way of having a good workable relationship with the employer.  They
constantly wanted work that was outside the scope of my skillset just
because they had to pay so much for me.  I was successful but it took a lot
of doing to make both sides happy and satisfied.  Two, once the employer got
to the end of the contract, they offered me the contract personally.  This
was a win/win for both of us.  I would get a big raise and the employer
would pay much less than they were before.  Unfortunately, this would have
been a violation of the contract I had with the agency involved and would
have been unfair to them and so I had to turn it down both times.  However,
the problem still exists.  Bottom line:  It has been much easier to
negotiate my own contracts with clients and find my own interviews with
potential employers.  I know much more than anyone else what I can do and
what I really want.

My $.02 worth.

-- 
Scott Hill

"May you solve interesting problems" - Author Unknown
"A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject." -
Sir Winston Churchill